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The Ultimate CairoScene Guide to AUC Tahrir CultureFest 2026
Book fairs, food spots, live music, and shopping bazaars – it’s all waiting for you at this year’s culture festival.
Mar 27, 2026
The American University in Cairo's Tahrir Campus is hosting the third edition of AUC Tahrir CultureFest from April 2nd to 4th. This year’s theme, ‘Future Cairo’, looks at how tradition and technology intersect, and what that means for how the city is evolving. AI, innovation and urban change all feed into a three-day programme that builds on what previous editions have established.
The line-up includes live performances from famed musicians Lege-cy and Hisham Kharma, alongside a full-day book fair, talks, exhibitions and food vendors spread across the campus. There are also dedicated activities for children throughout the event.
Whether you’re planning around specific talks or just dropping in to see what’s happening, we’ve rounded up everything you need to catch at this year’s CultureFest...
Opening Reception
📍 Galleries & Fountain Area
📅 Thu April 2nd | 6PM
The festivities open with four gallery exhibitions – ‘I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore’ by Hassan Ragab, ‘Time Will Tell’, ‘Anah: Conversations with AI’, and ‘Future C—AI—RO’. And as the day continues, the ‘Whispers of the Walls’ projection light show brings the history of AUC Tahrir Square to life, tracing its journey from early blueprints to becoming a landmark of culture and learning.
‘I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore’ Exhibition by Hassan Ragab
📍 Margo Veillon Gallery
📅 April 2nd-4th
The exhibit blurs human memory with machine interpretation through immersive AI-driven visuals. A four-year journey where Cairo’s digital imagination and personal identity collide.
‘Time Will Tell’ Exhibition
📍 Margo Veillon Gallery
📅 April 2nd-4th
A gallery event reimagining Cairo’s future through artists, AI, and the environmental, technological, and cultural forces shaping the city ahead.
'Anah: Conversations with AI' Multimedia Exhibit by Samia Mehrez & Amr Ali
📍 Future Gallery
📅 April 2nd-4th
This showcase explores the emotional and ethical edges of human–AI collaboration. Through sculptural waste, interactive projections, and real-time AI text, the digital becomes tangible.
'Future C—AI—RO' Exhibition
📍 Legacy Gallery
📅 April 2nd-4th
Logo and Visual Identity students spent Fall 2025 imagining the look and feel of CultureFest: Future Cairo. After a series of paired pitches, one visual direction rose to the top.
Book Fair
📍 Palace Garden
📅 April 3rd-4th | 12PM-9PM
Dive into a world of books at this year’s Tahrir CultureFest, and explore a wide collection of genres from Arabic titles, history, art, fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, and more.
Shopping Bazaar
📍 Fountain Area
📅 April 3rd-4th | 12PM-9PM
Vendors and attendees gather for two days of handmade finds, unique crafts, and artisanal items up for grabs. As you step inside, expect to see brands like Samra, Serenity, Alkawkab, Clout Gear, Florchet, Dalal Silver, Tawasol, Trio Earrings, and more.
Flavour Fusion
📍 Fountain Area
📅 April 2nd-4th | 12PM-9PM
Bold flavours meet global dishes – served fresh every day of the festival to keep you fuelled from morning till night.
Kids Corner
📍 Main Garden
📅 April 3rd-4th | 12PM-9PM
Bring the little ones along – the festival’s kids’ program is packed with fun: ‘Happily Ever After’ with face painting, canvas painting, and pottery activities; ‘Cartoonista’ with artist Banan Khalil painting a live portrait of you and your child; and an ‘Origami Workshop’ by Jimmi Gami introducing kids to the art of paper folding.
Lege-Cy Concert
📍 Outdoor Stage
📅 Thu April 2nd | 8PM
The rapper, singer, and producer brings his ‘El Rehla’ show as part of the festival’s vast programme. Tickets are available via the Tazkarti website.
Back to Cairo: From Firsts to the Future Tour
📍 Howard Room
📅 Fri April 3rd | 10AM-3:30PM
What if Downtown Cairo could tell its own story? Join Qahrawya on a journey through the neighbourhood’s transformation – from iconic broadcast sites to Talaat Harb’s vision – ending at the Postal Museum. A chance to rediscover Downtown Cairo as a living archive. Ticketed registration required.
Best of ANIMATEX 2026
📍 Marriott Room
📅 April 3rd-4th
Across two days, the festival screens four standout films from this year’s official competitions – from short films made for children, to a special showcase of 90 Years of Egyptian Animation, and even the world’s oldest surviving animated feature, celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Innovation Discovery Zone
📍 Armenian Room
📅 Fri April 3rd | 3PM-9PM
From LEGO challenges to AI demos and robotics exploration, festivalgoers can dive into a range of hands-on activities – all led by expert instructors in 30-minute guided sessions. No booking is required. Just show up.
Scenario Thinking: The Future of Cairo
📍 Hill House 102
📅 Fri April 3rd | 3PM-6PM
How does smart tech shape the way we envision Cairo’s future? This interactive workshop on scenario thinking – featuring Heikal Department of Management’s Associate Professor of Practice, Moataz Darwish, as speaker – explores multiple possible paths for the city, building on trends like climate change, population growth, and emerging technologies, while diving into “what if” scenarios that tackle real challenges and influence Cairo’s development.
Registration is required. Visit the festival’s official website to secure your spot.
Weaving Wonder
📍 Main Garden
📅 Fri April 3rd | 3PM
From leading performances at global festivals like the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival to hosting interactive workshops and sharing historical tales, the co-founder of El-Hakawaty Initiative is bringing ‘Weaving Wonder’ to AUC’s CultureFest – a full day of storytelling, imagination, heritage, and empowerment, inviting attendees of all ages to come listen.
Digital Resurrection: How Medical Imaging Is Transforming Egyptology
📍 Oriental Hall
📅 Fri April 3rd | 4PM
Pioneering mummy expert and co-author of ‘Scanning the Pharaohs’, Professor Sahar Saleem, leads a fascinating talk on medical imaging – from underground X-rays at excavation sites to CT scans and facial reconstructions of ancient kings – and how these technologies are revolutionizing the study of ancient Egypt. Access is given on a first-come, first-served basis based on room capacity.
World of Wonders: A Puppet Tale
📍 Main Garden
📅 Fri April 3rd | 4:30PM
From iconic wedding customs to the rich culinary traditions of Egypt, Palestine, and Kuwait, kids will embark on an exciting journey through culture and heritage.
Tomorrow’s World
📍 Ewart Memorial Hall
📅 Fri April 3rd | 5PM
When Teta decides the local kiosk needs a robotic upgrade, hilarity ensues! Don’t miss this original, one-hour interactive family play by Emma Davies – performed in English and Arabic – as it makes its debut at this year’s Tahrir CultureFest. Access is given on a first-come, first-served basis based on room capacity.
CAC Varsity Dance: Resonare and Movie Dances
📍 Ewart Memorial Hall
📅 Fri April 3rd | 7PM
Varsity Dance – directed by Paula Juliana Cornejo – takes the CAC stage with ‘Resonare’, a contemporary piece exploring how loneliness echoes when empathy is missing – then brings cinema to life with four dynamic choreographies from Chicago, La La Land, Rio, and The Greatest Showman, celebrating how movement shapes emotion and storytelling.
Hisham Kharma
📍 Outdoor Stage
📅 Fri April 3rd | 8PM
On the festival’s second day, Kharma takes the stage for a night of orchestral emotion, immersive sound design, electronic instruments, and a striking fusion of music and modern technology.
Future Cairo Experience
📍 Garden
📅 Sat April 4th | 12PM-9PM
The Future-Tech Activation Suite by 5dVR offers an immersive journey where Egypt’s cultural heritage meets cutting-edge technology. Guests can explore the AI-powered photobooth Cairo ‘2100 Transformations’ and dive into curated VR experiences including the Runner Game, Smart Cities VR, and UBR, blending generative AI, real-time interaction, and high-energy virtual worlds.
'Human Forward' TedX Talks
📍 Ewart Memorial Hall
📅 Sat April 4th | 12PM-3PM
Speakers from business, psychology, architecture, and the creative arts will gather to discuss human-centered innovation and its role in shaping the next era and the broader digital landscape.
Names include Basma Rady, Chief Data Scientist at Beltone Holding and Managing Director of Robin; Caro Doss, Personal Stylist and Intentional Living Advocate; Karim El Shafie, Chairman of Al Ismaelia for Real Estate Investment; Lamia Kamel, Founder of CC Plus, The Narrative Summit, and the Al Rawi Award; Mohamed Aboulnaga Nagaty, Technology Investor and Entrepreneur; Mostafa Salem, Founder of Coconut Premium Interiors; Omneya El Yammany, Commercial Manager at P&G; and Sara Aziz, CEO of Safe Egypt.
The Ted-X event is free to attend. However, registration is required. Fill in the necessary form through the festival’s official website.
Behind the Screen: How AI Is Changing What We Read, Watch and Believe
📍 Oriental Hall
📅 Sat April 4th | 2:30PM
AI is rapidly transforming media – from journalism to television to digital platforms. It’s reshaping how we create and consume content, powering everything from automated news writing and synthetic video to virtual presenters. This talk takes a deep dive into the evolution of artificial intelligence, what it has brought to the industry so far, the emerging trends shaping its future, and how media will continue to evolve in the age of AI.
Participating speakers include Haitham El-Sawy, Head of the Digital Transformation Project at AlGhad TV; Mona Magdy Abdel Maqsoud, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Mass Communication in Cairo University; Dina Samak, Managing Editor of Ahram Online; Alaa El Ghatriefy, Editor-in-Chief of Al Masry Al Youm and Author of Media in the Age of AI; and talk moderator Khaled Ezzelarab, Associate Professor of Practice and Director of Middle East Studies Program at AUC.
Turning Cairo into Pixels
📍 Outdoor Stage
📅 Sat April 4th | 3PM
What if Cairo’s vibrant spirit could be reimagined through pixel art? Marwan Abbas explores exactly that in his upcoming live drawing and animation session.
Higher Ed in the Age of AI
📍 Oriental Hall
📅 Sat April 4th | 4PM
We’ve talked about how AI is transforming media and reshaping the way we consume content – but how is it influencing higher education? From redefining how we teach, learn, and assess knowledge, this panel explores the challenges and opportunities AI brings to universities, and how institutions can take the lead in preparing students for an AI-ready future.
Speakers include Ghada El Shimi MA, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and the Academy of Liberal Arts at AUC; Yasser El Shayeb, Professor of Rock Engineering Applications in Heritage and Archeology at Cairo University; Khalil Elkhodary, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies at AUC; and talk moderator Hoda Mostafa, Director at Center for Learning and Teaching in AUC.
Access is given on a first-come, first-served basis with limited room capacity.
AI and the Economy: Opportunities and Implications
📍 Oriental Hall
📅 Sat April 4th | 5:30PM
As large language models and generative AI reshape the world, what do these shifts mean for Egypt’s economy, workforce, and digital future? This panel breaks it down — from how AI is already transforming labour markets to the growing gaps in infrastructure and access. It also tackles the big question of governance, examining whether today’s policies are enough for an AI-driven world.
Speakers include Samer Atallah, Associate Professor of Economics and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies; Marwa Abbas, General Manager and Technology Leader North East Africa, IBM; Hoda Baraka, Professor of Computer Engineering at Cairo University; and talk moderator Omnia Mohamed, Economics major graduating senior.
Salute to Gaza Choir
📍 Outdoor Stage
📅 Sat April 4th | 6PM
Hear the sound of Palestinian resilience as Salute to Gaza Choir, established in Cairo back in October 2024 by the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, takes centre stage.
The Sound of Intelligence
📍 Outdoor Stage
📅 Sat April 4th | 7:30PM
Music meets AI at Tahrir CultureFest 2026 as Musicana takes the stage with a three-act performance exploring hope, loss, and resistance in the age of technology – followed by renowned artist Amr Mostafa breaking down how AI is reshaping music creation in an illuminating talk.
